History, 1838–1856, volume B-1 [1 September 1834–2 November 1838]

  • Source Note
  • Historical Introduction
Page 847
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<​October 30 Hauns Mill Massacre​> was 18 or 19 whose names as far as I recollect, were as follows: , Levi <​-[N.]-​> Merrick Elias Benner, Josiah Fuller, Benjamin Lewis, Alexander Campbell, , Sardius Smith -[aged 12 years]-, George S. Richards Mr. -[William]- Napier, Mr. -[Austin]- <​Augestin​> -[Augtistie]- Harmer, Mr. -[Simon]- Cox, Mr. , Mr. , Chas. Merrick -[a boy eight or nine years old]- -[John Lee, John Byers,]- and three or four others, whose names I do not recollect as they were strangers to me. Among the wounded who recovered were Isaac Laney, Nathan K. Knight, Mr. -[William]- Yokum, two brothers by the name of and George]- Myers, , Mr. , and several others (, -[Jacob Potts, Charles Jimison, John Walker, Alma Smith aged about 9 years old]- Miss Mary Stedwell while fleeing was shot thorough the hand, and fainting, fell over a log, into which they shot upwards of twenty balls. To finish their work of destruction this band of murderers composed of men from , , , Carroll and Counties, led by some of the principal men of that section of the Upper Country, (among whom I am informed were Mr. Ashby of , member of the State Legislature, Col. Jennings, of , Thomas O. Bryon, Clerk of , Mr. Whitney, Dr. Randall, and many others) proceeded to rob the houses, waggons and tents, of bedding and clothing, drove off horses and waggons, leaving widows and orphans destitute of the necessaries of life, and even stripped the clothing from the bodies of the slain! According to their own account, they fired seven rounds in this awful butchery, making upwards of sixteen hundred shots at a little company of men, about thirty in number. I hereby certify the above to be a true statement of facts according to the best of my knowledge. .
State of Illinois, County of — ss— I hereby certify that this day came before me and made oath in due form of law that the Statements contained in the foregoing sheets are true according to the best of his knowledge and belief. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the Circuit Court at this fourth day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty nine— C. M. Woods— Clerk Circuit Court Ill.”
-[a younger brother of the Boy here killed, aged eight, was shot through the hip. The little fellow states, [HC 3:186] that seeing his Father and brother both killed, he thought they would shoot him again if he stirred, and so feigned himself dead, and lay perfectly still, till he heard his mother call him after dark.]-
Nathan K. Knight saw a Missourian cut down with a Corn Cutter and also saw them stripping the dying, and heard the boys crying for mercy— Brother Knight made his escape across the Mill dam after receiving his wounds through his lungs and finger— After the Massacre was over he was led to a house by a woman and whilst lying under his wounds he heard Mr. <​Jesse​> Maupin say that he blew one of the boys brains out, and one day whilst walking the Streets at , he was met by three Missourians who threatened to butcher him, and one of them by the name of Rogers drew a Butcher Knife, and said “that he had not got his Corn Cutter with him, that he cut down with, but by Jesus I have got something that will do as well;” but by great chance he made his escape from the Ruffian—
withdrew from the army at as soon as the ’s exterminating order was received, although up to this time we were ignorant at of the movements of the Mob at and the ’s order of extirmination—
On the Thirtieth of October a large company of armed Soldiery were seen approaching . They came up near to the Town and then drew back about a mile and encamped for the night. We were informed that they were Militia, ordered out by the for the purpose of stopping our proceedings it having been represented to his Excellency by wicked and designing Men from , that we were the aggressors, and had committed outrages in &c They had not yet got the ’s order of [HC 3:187] extermination, which I believe did not arrive until the next day— [p. 847]
October 30 Hauns Mill Massacre was 18 or 19 whose names as far as I recollect, were as follows: , Levi -[N.]- Merrick Elias Benner, Josiah Fuller, Benjamin Lewis, Alexander Campbell, , Sardius Smith -[aged 12 years]-, George S. Richards Mr. -[William]- Napier, Mr. -[Austin]- -[Augtistie]- Harmer, Mr. -[Simon]- Cox, Mr. , Mr. , Chas. Merrick -[a boy eight or nine years old]- -[John Lee, John Byers,]- and three or four others, whose names I do not recollect as they were strangers to me. Among the wounded who recovered were Isaac Laney, Nathan K. Knight, Mr. -[William]- Yokum, two brothers by the name of and George]- Myers, , Mr. , and several others (, -[Jacob Potts, Charles Jimison, John Walker, Alma Smith aged about 9 years old]- Miss Mary Stedwell while fleeing was shot thorough the hand, and fainting, fell over a log, into which they shot upwards of twenty balls. To finish their work of destruction this band of murderers composed of men from , , , Carroll and Counties, led by some of the principal men of that section of the Upper Country, (among whom I am informed were Mr. Ashby of , member of the State Legislature, Col. Jennings, of , Thomas O. Bryon, Clerk of , Mr. Whitney, Dr. Randall, and many others) proceeded to rob the houses, waggons and tents, of bedding and clothing, drove off horses and waggons, leaving widows and orphans destitute of the necessaries of life, and even stripped the clothing from the bodies of the slain! According to their own account, they fired seven rounds in this awful butchery, making upwards of sixteen hundred shots at a little company of men, about thirty in number. I hereby certify the above to be a true statement of facts according to the best of my knowledge. .
State of Illinois, County of — ss— I hereby certify that this day came before me and made oath in due form of law that the Statements contained in the foregoing sheets are true according to the best of his knowledge and belief. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the Circuit Court at this fourth day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty nine— C. M. Woods— Clerk Circuit Court Ill.”
-[a younger brother of the Boy here killed, aged eight, was shot through the hip. The little fellow states, [HC 3:186] that seeing his Father and brother both killed, he thought they would shoot him again if he stirred, and so feigned himself dead, and lay perfectly still, till he heard his mother call him after dark.]-
Nathan K. Knight saw a Missourian cut down with a Corn Cutter and also saw them stripping the dying, and heard the boys crying for mercy— Brother Knight made his escape across the Mill dam after receiving his wounds through his lungs and finger— After the Massacre was over he was led to a house by a woman and whilst lying under his wounds he heard Mr. Jesse Maupin say that he blew one of the boys brains out, and one day whilst walking the Streets at , he was met by three Missourians who threatened to butcher him, and one of them by the name of Rogers drew a Butcher Knife, and said “that he had not got his Corn Cutter with him, that he cut down with, but by Jesus I have got something that will do as well;” but by great chance he made his escape from the Ruffian—
withdrew from the army at as soon as the ’s exterminating order was received, although up to this time we were ignorant at of the movements of the Mob at and the ’s order of extirmination—
On the Thirtieth of October a large company of armed Soldiery were seen approaching . They came up near to the Town and then drew back about a mile and encamped for the night. We were informed that they were Militia, ordered out by the for the purpose of stopping our proceedings it having been represented to his Excellency by wicked and designing Men from , that we were the aggressors, and had committed outrages in &c They had not yet got the ’s order of [HC 3:187] extermination, which I believe did not arrive until the next day— [p. 847]
Page 847